X-Men '97 confirms one character as nonbinary in Disney+ series
February 21, 2024X-Men '97 serves as a continuation of the original animated series from the 1990s, though one character comes with a change for the new show.
In a new issue of Empire magazine showcasing X-Men '97, brief character profiles are given for several of the returning characters from ‘X-Men: The Animated Series’. With the shapeshifter Morph, it was revealed that X-Men '97 will feature a “lighter take on the character, who is nonbinary and has an interesting buddy relationship with Wolverine.” Establishing Morph as nonbinary is a key change for the character, who had never been identified as nonbinary in the original show or any of the comic books, according to ‘CBR’. It’s also teased that Morph’s past with Mister Sinister will “come into play” in some way in X-Men ’97.
Image Credit: Canva
A shapeshifting mutant, whose real name is Kevin Sydney, Morph has the ability to take the form of anyone, and the character has transformed into both male and female characters. This proved useful as a member of the X-Men at the start of ‘X-Men: The Animated Series’, which also saw the shocking death of Morph in a battle against the Sentinels. Of course, fans will remember how the character was revealed to have survived, having since become a villain with the guidance of Mister Sinister. Morph would later team back up with the X-Men in the battle against Mister Sinister, but the trauma from his complicated cast prevented the mutant from ever fully integrating back into the group.
“He really set the stakes, and he had a very interesting relationship with the team because of trauma,” X-Men '97 showrunner Beau DeMayo said of Morph's run in the original show.
Ron Rubin voiced Morph in the original X-Men animated series. Rubin returned for the new show, but in the role of President Robert Edward Kelly. J. P. Karliak (The Boss Baby: Back in Business, Trolls: TrollsTopia, New Looney Tunes) is taking over the role of Morph for the new series.
The new series picks up after the original show’s finale, which featured a dying Professor X leaving his mutant family behind as he traveled to the Shi’ar homeworld. DeMayo teased that the first season of X-Men '97 is “very much about what happens when the X-Men are faced with a future they didn't expect.” Not much else has been revealed about what will happen moving ahead with the new show, but the first trailer provided a sneak peek at some of the action that's to come in the series.
X-Men '97 will premiere on March 20, 2024, on Disney+.
Read related myGwork articles here:
Disney Just Introduced Pixar’s First Non-Binary Character
‘Hogwarts Legacy’ Introduces First Trans Character In ‘Harry Potter’ Franchise
One In Five Studio Films Included An LGBTQ+ Character In 2021, GLAAD Report Finds
'Batgirl' Casts Ivory Aquino As First Trans Character In A DC Comics Feature Film
The Owl House Introduces Disney's First Non-Binary Character
Keep up to date with the latest myGnews